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Meteors

From the Perseids to the Lyrids, meteor showers provide a wonderful opportunity to lay back and be in awe of the universe. While most are best viewed on moonless nights from about midnight until the first glimmer of dawn, meteors often flash across the sky at unexpected times. They are bits of interplanetary debris slamming into Earth’s upper atmosphere.

But even the smallest grains can produce huge streaks of light. And a stream of debris can create streaks by the minute. Sky & Telescope provides the latest tips and tricks for watching the best meteor showers, from being adequately prepared with the right gear (i.e. mosquito repellant or a sleeping bag) to taking incredible images of meteors streaking across the sky. Check back here for updates on upcoming showers.

Sky & Telescope predicts that 2014's best meteor shower won't be one of the traditional displays. Instead, on May 24th the predawn skies over North America might come alive with a robust display of "shooting stars" shed by Comet 209P/LINEAR.